HEMRL director Dr Haridwar Singh says the `air regenerating composition', a chemical mixture which regenerates air inside a confined space by evolving oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide simultaneously, is the research laboratory's latest find. One which will come as a boon to a host of military and civilian agencies, especially the primary health centres operating in remote rural areas.

The DRDO had earlier produced pellets from waste propellants for use as fuel in high altitude areas. Usertrials, already conducted in the Siachen Glacier, led to the conclusion that it was not only convenient to store and transport but highly cost-effective, also offering an outlet for disposal of toxic waste explosive material.

Dr Singh says the active ingredient of this new granular composition is potassium superoxide (KO2). The composition has already been developed for the Indian Navy it will be in the form of a thin sheet to regenerate air inside a submarine and in the form of granules for self-contained breathing apparatus used by divers.

This composition can also be used in a sealed battle-tank against NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) warfare, toxic gas chemical plant operations, underwater habitat and mineral explorations, underground public shelters or control rooms and oxygen for gas cuttings in inaccessible environments.

``All it needs is a sterilised airtight container which can ensure a proper flow of oxygen depending on the requirements of the user,'' says Dr Singh about the granularcomposition.

The research laboratory which has so far been meeting the nearly 8 tonne per annum requirement of the Indian Navy has already transferred the technology to a Mumbai-based private company, Suparna Chemicals, to reduce the burden on its pilot plant located at Sutarwadi near Pashan in Pune.

Although he forsees a tremendous demand for this composition which guarantees a steady supply of oxygen for various applications, Dr Singh is more concerned with the lack of facilities in the primary health care centres in remote areas. As of now, the laboratory has a major problem on hand. Try and convince companies to take up such projects on a commercial basis because they demand steady and immediate orders.